First off, that title is very misleading.  Because my origin story for The Sword and Shield can be told in a few sentences.  Basically, I was looking at my most recent scarring scratch from Echo (the asshole of my two cats) and I thought, “Hey, wouldn’t it be funny if there was an assassin with an auto-immune (or something) disorder?  That would be pretty unusual!  And hey, I should give him cats.  Many many cats.”  That is literally the entirety of my inspiration for The Sword and Shield.  I feel like I maybe might have just killed some of the magic/mystery, but that’s okay.

Most of the ideas for my stories come from random ideas followed by the thought “well that would be interesting”.  Because of that, in combination with my ADD, I have had many, many, many different story ideas over the years.  Only a handful have made it to the actual character sketch and outlining process though.  Right now I have two completed books, the outline for four others, and the beginning of one more.  I anticipate that will keep me busy for several years and by then, hopefully, I will have ideas for even more books.

The book Social Media for Writers has taken up the allotted nightly reading time I would usually reserve for something a little more magical.  I was reading the latest installment of Benedict Jacka’s “Alex Verus” series, but I reluctantly set it aside to focus on my studies.  Anyone who likes humor and urban magic should check the series out!

The only chapters of Social Media for Writers that I skipped were on Podcasts and Youtube and I have no immediate intention of delving into those particular medias.  I just finished reading about how I can use Pinterest to promote myself and, honestly, I never even considered it for the expansion of my platform until I read that chapter.  So far, this book is proving to be a quality investment in my future.

Today I’m taking some of the custom bookmarks I printed with this website on them to the local library for approval.  Library goers are the bulk of my audience so if there’s any way I can bring their attention to my blog and soon (an abstract concept full of false hopes) to be published book, then I will do it.

As of yesterday, I have submitted my entire manuscript to the literary agent interested in my book and will now begin pacing back and forth with unfounded anxiety until I hear back from her.

That’s all for today,

Bye for now!

The Sword and Shield has many wonderful characters, but I am especially proud of this story’s main protagonist, Ezra Toth.  He’s reminds me a bit of the love child between Deadpool and Inigo Montoya.  See below for a picture that, I believe, best represents Ezra’s appearance.

While the story could still use some polish, I have edited it to death based upon mine, and my beta reader’s suggestions.  There is nothing else I can do to make my book shine without the critical, expert eye of an editor.  That is why I’m working so hard to expand my web platform, so I can get the agent I want to take me on, so I can get published, so I can finally see my writing in a real published book!

My dream is to be shopping in Barnes and Noble one day and see my book on the shelves.  My even more daring dream is to be passing by and hear people talking about it.

Right now I’m 6k words into my third book and have hit a bit of a wall, but I’m not too upset.  I finished my second book faster than I had any right to expect so if this one takes a little longer, I won’t be too upset.  The working title is Djinni in a Bottle.  I’m not sure why, since I haven’t thought about the song in forever, but it’s just a working title.  One of my earlier writing projects was literally called WORKING TITLE.  And, more often than not, the publisher ends up changing the title anyways.  I’m trying to not be too attached to the title The Sword and Shield but it’s hard.

That’s all for today.  As soon as I get my social media platform books in I will read and review them.

Bye for now!

But seriously, it’s time to put my game face on.  I had no idea how much I didn’t know until I started down this path of tweets, blog posts, and instagram action.  There is so much to learn when it comes to self-promotion.  I effectively have to become a Public Relations specialist, marketing myself to as many people as possible.  While some might say I should focus on only the readers that are going to be interested in my book, the fact of the matter is, lots of different kinds of people might find interest in my writing.

Because of that, and because I believe if you want to get something done you should allow for a sufficient amount redundancy, I will be casting a wide net.  I will be *hashtagging* as much as I can to catch the eye of a wide variety of people.  I was already fortunate enough to convince the amazing ‘Now! Write’ blogger on Twitter to retweet my post.  In the past hour since she did the retweet I’ve accumulated sixteen new followers.

But, going back to the beginning, I am just starting to open my eyes to how complex establishing a social media platform can be.  I have purchased 3 books on the subject and will review them here after I’ve had a chance to skim through them.

For me, writing isn’t just a hobby, or a passion.  If it weren’t for my severe aversion to homelessness I would write full time.  It is what I was born to do and I’ve never been as sure of anything else in my life.  Except for my surety that chocolate was sent to destroy me.

In addition to blogging, tweeting, and instagramming, I am taking on the real world as well.  I have ordered custom bookmarks and stickers with my website on them and intend to spread them far and wide!  I will be sure to take pictures of them when they arrive.

If you haven’t already, follow my blog via e-mail or follow me on Facebook.  Those are the numbers I will present to the literary agent to show her that I’ve built up a sufficient following.  Just like ONLY YOU can prevent wildfires, ONLY YOU can help me achieve my life-long dream of publishing a book.

Bye for now!

So this isn’t just related to writers, all people occasionally have trouble focusing, finding motivation to do their work or, in my case, writing.  Translating the thoughts in my head to words on the page.  Here are some quick things I’ve found to help me focus.

1. Adderall: Now this isn’t a drug commercial, I promise.  I just found that, since I was diagnosed as ADD and started taking it, everything is so much easier.  If you have been told you are easily distractible, have trouble keeping to one task for long periods of time, or make constant unrelated segues, then it is possible that you too suffer from ADD.  Next time you’re at the doctor’s office, ask if they can do an assessment.  It can’t hurt to rule it out, or identify it.
2. Forest: These days we all find ourselves checking our phone multiple times in the hour, if not more.  For the exceptionally addicted, there is an app called Forest.  It blocks your ability to use apps for whatever time you allot as your work time.  During that period, a virtual tree grows.  If you ‘Give Up’ as they put it, the tree will die.  My combined hatred of being told I’m giving up, along with my desire to keep at least one plant alive drives me to stick to my timetable and work.  There are many similar apps if you have no interest in creating a virtual forest.
3. Music: Music, especially when writing, is something I find very helpful.  Nothing with lyrics, as those just distract me, but calm and quiet music.  The stuff I listen to falls into two categories.  I find classical music to be especially stimulating when I’m writing descriptions and working on my world-building.  I don’t know why, it just works.  The other music that does wonders for my productivity is video-game music.  Studies have shown that the music created by video-game designers is specifically engineered to drive people to keep playing.  That same motivation can be extracted from the soundtrack, playing softly in the background, feeding you a steady supply of motivation.
4. Change your scenery: If what you need to focus on is in house, obviously this won’t work for you.  But if you have homework, need to write, or just need to finish that project from work, a change of scenery can do wonders.  Especially because, at home, you have access to all the distractions that usually cause problems.  For me, I have a vast array of books, Netflix, and two needy cats that stand between me and my writing.  My favorite place to go is Panera.  I slip on some headphones, drink the unlimited free water, and munch on a croissant while typing as fast as my fingers will take me.
5. Take a break: It sounds counterproductive, I know.  To get something done you need to stop doing it?  But it’s true.  Sometimes brute-forcing your work just doesn’t work.  The brain can only work so hard before smoke starts pouring from your ears.  At this point, it’s a good idea to stand up and do something else.  Throw some laundry in the wash, make a snack, go outside and fulfill your sunlight quota for the day.  Whatever it is, I guarantee you will feel rejuvenated and ready to take another stab at your work.

That’s all I have for today.  I’m going to take my own advice and take a break.

Bye for now!

(The first sentence of The Sword and Shield.)

Really though, just wow.  I am overwhelmed by the numbers coming in.  Almost 100 people have already visited http://www.emmakhoury.wordpress.com!  Make sure you are actually opting to FOLLOW the blog as those are the numbers I will eventually present to the literary agent that is interested in my work.  It also provides you with a notification via e-mail when I create a new blog post like this one!

Unfortunately, self-promotion requires effort and maintenance, so I’m not going to allow myself to become complacent. (Eye of the Tiger playing softly in the background) I have downloaded the apps for Tumblr, WordPress, and Blogger in an effort to get my name out there.  I will be posting to those, as well as to my Facebook and Instagram pages no less than twice a week.

For someone who isn’t that fond of social media, I certainly have a lot of it now!

In other news, I just completed my second book!  Well, I completed the first of many many many drafts of my second book.  As of right now, it clocks in at roughly 90,000 words, written in just over two months.  Like Nanowrimo but with more crying.  It is still unnamed, though I’m leaning towards The Seer.  Will have to think about it.

I know, as an avid reader and purchaser of excessive numbers of books, that the title is very important.  My process when buying a book is a bit like If you give a mouse a cookie: if I like the title I will look at the cover, if I like the cover I will read the back, if I like the back I will read the first page and finally, if I like the first page I will read the first chapter, and if I like the first chapter I check my bank account and then buy the book regardless of what the bank – or my wallet – is telling me. Somehow, despite that rigorous evaluation process, I still have FIVE bookcases absolutely overflowing with books!

I am also going to present it to the agent as having the potential to be two books.  If I flesh it out more (world-building, descriptions, additional scenes) I think I could do it!

Well that’s all for today,

Bye for now!

*Insert Australian Accent Here*

Look closely, here we see a writer in her natural habitat.  Observe, the desperate look in her eyes as her fingers fly over the keyboard, just barely keeping up with the ideas pouring forth from her brain.  The hunched posture, as if she wishes she could launch herself into the story and wring the main character’s neck.  The pale complexion that hints at more time in a fictional world than the outside world.

Just kidding!

But really, thank you for taking the time out of your day to visit my baby of a website.  It came in at a beautiful 8lbs 7oz and is of a binary gender.

If you got that joke I want to be your best friend.

Okay, it looks like I am incapable of being serious at the moment.  I’m too hopped up on sugar from my latest poor life choice (donuts).

So here’s where I am in my writing life.  I have completed a manuscript entitled The Sword and Shield.  It still needs a little polish, but that will have to come from an editor as I have been over it so many times that I have grown to hate it just a little bit.  My second, as of now unnamed book, is almost complete.  Somehow, the ADD gods took pity on me because I’ve written 80k words in TWO months.  So as soon as that is finished I’ll hand it off to my beta readers (family and friends) who will tear it up into tiny pieces and set it on fire.  Kidding.  I hope.

They gave me great critiques on The Sword and Shield and I’m sure they’ll do the same for this latest project.

That’s all for today, I will try to post at least twice a week moving forward.  If I don’t, assume that one of my characters pulled an Inkheart, found me, and murdered me for being so mean.

Bye for now!